The Subaru brand is in the news again for cars that are the best for teens. It received three more awards for having the best cars for teen drivers—the Outback, Crosstrek, and Legacy. Here's pricing and I'll explore if they're the best.
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Subaru of America reports that it's earned the Best New Cars for Teens award in two new-car segments from U.S. News Autos. Subaru was also picked as the Best Used Small SUV in the used-car segment.
Subaru has been in the news recently for its cars that are the best for teens. I recently covered a story about Subaru earning seven spots from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports for both new and used vehicles for teen drivers. Read my report here.
Here Are The Best New Subaru Cars For Teens From U.S. News
- The 2024 Subaru Outback wins Best SUV in the $35,000-$40,000 price range
- The 2024 Subaru Legacy secures Best Car priced from $30,000 to $35,000
U.S. News says, "Navigating a car purchase for a new teen driver can be a daunting journey. There are a variety of things parents must take into account when finding the right car for their teen, including safety, reliability, and technology."
I've listed the 2024 Best New Cars for Teens By Category and Price
- 2024 Hyundai Elantra | Best New Car for Teens $20k to $25k
- 2024 Kia Soul | Best New SUV for Teens $20k to $25k
- 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | Best New Car for Teens $25k to $30k
- 2024 Hyundai Tucson | Best New SUV for Teens $25k to $30k
- 2024 Subaru Legacy | Best New Car for Teens $30k to $35k
- 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | Best New SUV for Teens $30k to $35k
- 2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid | Best New Car for Teens $35k to $40k
- 2024 Subaru Outback | Best New SUV for Teens $35k to $40k
President and Chief Operating Officer of Subaru of America, Jeff Walters, says, "We are pleased to receive the 2024 Best Cars for Teens award for Outback and Legacy from U.S. News & World Report. These awards illustrate our commitment to providing customers and their families with vehicles that are not only made to the highest standards of safety, reliability, and value but also versatile enough to tackle life's adventures."
2024 Subaru Legacy | Best New Car for Teens $30,000 to $35,000
U.S. News Says:
"The Subaru Legacy is a solid midsize car that's a great pick for teens. The Legacy receives excellent safety ratings, a perfect five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and is named an IIHS 2024 Top Safety Pick. Combine that with its roomy and comfortable interior, and you see why the Legacy provides great value at this price point."
"The Legacy also has a substantial safety features package, which includes forward collision warning and lane-keep assist. Reverse automatic braking is standard if you step up to the Limited trim, helping keep your vehicle safe from rear crashes. Also available in the Limited trim is Subaru Starlink, allowing you to monitor your teen's safety from afar."
2024 Subaru Outback | Best New SUV for Teens $35,000 to $40,000
U.S. News Says:
"The Subaru Outback is a perfect choice for a teen driver within this price bracket, as it provides a comprehensive lineup of driver-assistance features and strong safety ratings. It is an IIHS 2024 Top Safety pick and received a perfect five-star overall rating from NHTSA."
"Some of the safety features included in the Outback are front automatic braking and lane-keep assist. However, stepping up to the Onyx trim adds standard blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking. Also available is Starlink Safety and Security, which allows you to set a variety of safety alarms such as boundary, speed, and curfew alerts to ensure your teen's safety."
"One must also consider the variety of risks teens face when driving. These include distracted driving, nighttime visibility, and the temptation to speed, all of which can be life-threatening if not handled properly."
The Subaru Outback was recently ranked the best new midsize SUV in outward visibility. Read my recent report on Outback's excellent visibility here.
The 2020 Crosstrek Hybrid Earns Best Used Small SUV For Teens
2024 Best Used Cars for Teens
- 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | Best Used Small Car for Teens
- 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid | Best Used Small SUV for Teens
- 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | Best Used Midsize Car for Teens
- 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe | Best Used Midsize SUV for Teens
- 2021 Nissan Maxima | Best Used Large Car for Teens
Currently, a 2020 Crosstrek Hybrid typically sells for around $34,500.
U.S. News Says:
"Thanks to a combination of great crash ratings, a healthy roster of driver-assistance features, and adequate fuel efficiency, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is our pick for Best Used Small SUV for Teens."
"The Crosstrek Hybrid received near-perfect crashworthiness results from the IIHS, earning an IIHS 2020 Top Safety Pick+ and Good ratings across all categories. The Crosstrek Hybrid also has an outstanding collection of safety and driver-assistance features to further safeguard your teen, with features including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Subaru Starlink is also available, allowing parents to set speed, boundary, and curfew alerts for their teens."
"With a return of 35 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving according to the EPA, the Crosstrek Hybrid is also an efficient choice."
There's More Reasons Why Subaru Models Rank High For Teens
No other automaker offers a flat-four Boxer engine in all its vehicles. The horizontally opposed design allows the engine to sit low in the chassis, lowering the center of gravity, giving the Subaru model excellent balance and the best driving dynamics. A driver can make a mistake in a Subaru vehicle and not get hurt because they tend to be more stable than other cars and sport utility vehicles.
An example is when an inexperienced teen driver enters a corner or exit ramp too quickly and gets in trouble. In a Subaru vehicle, the car's lower center of gravity keeps the vehicle from leaning too far over, which could cause the driver to overcorrect, resulting in a crash. Or if a young driver has to swerve quickly to avoid hitting something in the road, they'll be able to correct it without losing control.
How Well Can Your Teen Driver See?
Another characteristic of Subaru models that needs to be included is their excellent visibility for the driver.
Because the Boxer engine in Subaru models sits much lower in the chassis than in other car brands, the lower engine height significantly affects a Subaru vehicle's outward visibility from the driver's seat.
The significant benefit is that the hood slopes downward because of the Boxer engine's height in the engine compartment. This gives the driver improved outward visibility and a better view of the road ahead. Even though the Outback and Legacy are midsize vehicles, it feels like you're driving a much smaller car.
The Crosstrek Hybrid is a subcompact SUV and is much more maneuverable when driving in the city.
So, to recap, Subaru vehicles are top picks for teen drivers because they have the latest safety tech that helps prevent collisions, are reliable, have superior driving dynamics in all situations, and have excellent visibility—all vital characteristics for teen drivers.
To join the discussion, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know about your experience with teen drivers.
I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
Photo credit: Subaru
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